Pietro, a young student from San Marco in Lamis, in the Foggia area, is only 17 years old, but he is already an expert fracchi driver.
He is among the youngest residents to take care of the creation of the fracchie, real fire torches - made with tree trunks, mounted on iron wheels and transported lit - which illuminate the procession of Our Lady of Sorrows on Good Friday.
A moment of great historical, religious and cultural value for the entire community.
It is an ancient rite that history dates back to 1824, the only one of its kind in the province of Foggia.
In his free time, the time he has left after attending school and studying at home, young Pietro dedicates himself to the ancient tradition.
"Practically - he says - I grew up among the fracchie. I am the son and grandson of art. A passion born at the age of 9 when I started making them. It is a brand of this country, which is right to pass on".
The fire torches can weigh up to several quintals and are of various sizes.
About thirty of them illuminate the Good Friday procession.
Eight are large, with a length between 10 and 11 metres, as many medium ones between 7 and 8 meters and then other rifts of different sizes "It takes about a month of work. We select the main mast - reveals the 17 year old - among the trunks supplied to us, we divide it into segments according to the diameter which we assemble with iron circles in an increasing manner, so as to make the cone take shape. The same is placed on the trolley with iron wheels. We insert other trunks into the inside the cone in order to close the gap even using very thin and dry wood and we make the trolley safe".
On Good Friday, wood is set on fire which is transformed into a torch to illuminate the path of the Our Lady of Sorrows procession.
Pietro also talks about the importance of making this tradition known in schools.
"It's a real art - he states proudly - which fascinates everyone and which it is right to make known to the younger generations. It's a moment of celebration for everyone. A unique emotion".
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